Will my AVM stress my heart?

verymelon · #1 08-02-2008, 06:23 PM

I have an AVM in my left arm. I have been really lucky with it because although it does cause excessive pain, it isn't anything so bad that it interrupts my life and I don't think it's bad enough to require treatment.
However, I did have to go to the ER with chest pains once, and was diagnosed with tachycardia, which I suppose is caused by the AVM. Since I've experienced rapid heart rates, chest pain, and fatigue during long physical activities for almost my entire life, is there a possibilty that over time this will cause too much stress to my heart? Even lately when I go out to walk the dog just down the block my heart speeds up and I get lightheaded (especially in the heat.) The doctors at the hospital couldn't really tell me anything and I've gone to several cardiothoracic surgeons who looked over my arm quickly and didn't seem concerned.

Cinderella22 · #2 08-02-2008, 10:06 PM

Hi I'm 30 yrs. old and I have AVM'S from my left shoulder down and that is a reallly good question. Every Dr. visit I've had my pulse has been 100 or more. I did read on website AVM's can put a strain on the heart. Have you been to a specialist? I'm in the process of getting an opinion from the expert Dr. Rosen on this web page, they say he's great.

verymelon · #3 08-04-2008, 09:33 PM

I've been to cardiologists but not anyone who deals specifically with AVMs. None of them seemed concerned, and neither did the doctors in the ER but I dont think they even put my tachycardia together with my AVM at all. It only occurred to me just recently.

Miriam · #4 10-21-2008, 03:44 PM

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to say for anyone who might be reading that there's another thread with more replies on more or less the same topic:
http://birthmark.org/board/showthread.php?t=1629

One lady said her husband had an AVM on his left arm that had enlarged the artery on that side and was causing some problems. There's some other info on heart-stress in that thread, too.

Verymelon, you might want to make sure you're not hypoglycemic. I am a little and it can cause rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and sweats, too.

All I can say from a personal standpoint is that the VMs on my arm generally do make docs worry (and freak out phelbotomists. That's always funny.), but rarely cause pain and don't seem to be causing heart problems yet.

Yours could be the opposite: small, but troublesome. Everyone's different. I agree with Cinderalla22 about going to a doctor who knows about AVMs, not just heart conditions.

Good luck with this.